Stompin ready for competition

By Tim Walker

Stompin is posing the question: can we achieve more through competition or cooperation? The Launceston based youth dance company will present 'On Your Marks' at York Park next weekend as a part of this year's 'Ten Days on the Islaned' arts festival. Competition, in all its forms, has inspired choreographers and dancers to create a performance that is tailor made for the venue.

While rehearsals have been going on for the past few months at Stompin's headquarters in downtown Launceston, the process of developing the choreography has involved the performers, families, and an awareness of the varied spaces at the venue, York Park stadium.

'On Your Marks', while being choreographed by Emma Porteus and Adam Wheeler, has infused the movements of each of the dancers into the show.

Director and co-choreographer Emma Porteus says she was inspired by her time working as a dance teacher at a local high school.

"It was a real eye opener for me in terms of how competition effected this small community of people that I was working with," Ms Porteus said.

The theme has been expanded to include both the primitive nature of competition for food and mates, as well as the modern day permutations of wealth, fame, prestige and peer groups.

Performers were also asked to interview family members, asking them how competition has effcted their lives, and how they see it as changing over the generations.

Along with being performed in various spaces through the stadium, 'On Your Marks' will include video documentary projections.

On Your Marks is being performed at York Park stadium in Launceston from 23rd to 26th March, and is a part of Ten Days on the Island.